Emergency Management: The Need for Better Public and Private Sector Partnership

We will begin this discussion back in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina considering we are still reeling from the impact of Sandy here in the Bahamas.

If the “American government would have responded like Wal-Mart has responded, we wouldn’t be in this crisis.” Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, paraphrasing Sheriff Harry Lee during an interview on “Meet the Press,” in October 2005

The Washington Post in its September 6, 2005 edition states: “Over the next few days [beginning two days after the hurricane hit], Wal-Mart’s response to Katrina—an unrivaled $20 million in cash donations, 1,500 truckloads of free merchandise, food for 100,000 meals

Move forward to August 2010 with the Copiapó mining accident, also known as the "Chilean mining accident", when the Chilean government needed to get a drill from Berlin, Pennsylvania, to the San Jose mine where 33 miners are trapped, it turned to UPS. Enter Cat Island with Hurricane Irene in August 2011, where the first world to come out of a devastated Cat Island was from a private business owner. These are just a few of the many examples which in my opinion set the stage for improving on national efforts for hurricane and emergency management that engage more readily the private sector.

Emergency management speaks to awareness training preparedness response and recovery for potentially loss causing disruptive events. From fires to bomb threats to serve weather conditions, good business demands your ability to manage the risk of the event occurring. What makes a hurricane so complex is the fact that is a natural occurring event that combines several forces of nature namely strong winds, sea surges, and rain. Never the less unlike let’s say an earthquake and tsunami which are very, very sudden and unpredictable events, a hurricane is for the most part is predictable and announced at least several hours in advance. This factor can greatly help in reducing the loss of life, movable property and fortifying fixed assets to reduce loss potential and damage.

Then why does it appear that after several hundred years of knowledge we in the Bahamas seem so unprepared and uncoordinated to the point of amazing. As I monitored the response to Sandy, I was troubled because of the limited availableness of information on one hand, the reporting of conditions on its own is not within itself good information. The various news outlets hand no solutions or answers, they were mere conduits that from what I could hear provide no help. During such events of this type all radio, television stations and other news source should be made to tie into one source periodically during the event so that the dissemination of information is consistent and constant. The typical practices on the other hand of simply giving alerts without adequate interpretation and explanation should be rectified. For example, I listened as a caller from Abaco asked a radio host for estimated time of departure of Sandy, the reply was uninformed and uncertain, and never the less they proceed to give the caller information. After hanging the host suddenly realized that there was available access to a representative from the Met Office, who provide clear answer that was at least 24 hours past the time previously stated to the caller. Maybe it is just me and I stand to be corrected, but I am unable to find the National Emergency Management Agency online. This is not to say it is not there, but certainly it is a hard find but it should not be such. Amazingly we are still be advised of the various ‘Hurricane Shelters’ giving one the choice of evacuation, without properly explaining the ramifications of not vacating your home. Do we really understand the difficulty and danger attempting to get to a ‘shelter’ during a storm, and what makes a shelter a ‘shelter’? Has this building been tested, fortified and outfitted as such.

While doing my best to keep in touch with friends and family in the Family Islands on several occasions it was mentioned that the Bahamas is not Nassau and they felt neglected. Understandably the stress of the time contributed to these statements, however I can say this now, really Nassau is very different than the Family Islands. This is a reality that should not be ignored but embraced so that proper planning can be done. What should a national plan include; well here is my opinionated plan.

Firstly the plan should involve developed to include the major stake holders from the private and public sector. For example is the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce / Employers Confederation represented on NEMA?

“Effective incident management of catastrophic events requires coordination of a wide range of organizations and activities, public and private. Under the current response framework, the Federal government merely “coordinates” resources to meet the needs of local and State governments based upon their requests for assistance. Pursuant to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Plan (NRP), Federal and State agencies build their command and coordination structures to support the local command and coordination structures during an emergency. Yet this framework does not address the conditions of a catastrophic event with large scale competing needs, insufficient resources, and the absence of functioning local governments. These limitations proved to be major inhibitors to the effective marshalling of Federal, State, and local resources to respond to Katrina.”
The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina Lessons Learned Chapter 5 Page 52: February 2006.

Essentially a National Enterprise Risk Management System, which is comprehensive systems approach to prevention, protection, preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery from disruptive events. Does this mean toss what we have in place, not at all; it does mean however reassess the inherent risk faced when managing an event like a hurricane and improving on what is in place. It appears that the plan needs revamping and better coordination in the first instance and just as importantly better communication. I submit that I as citizen have a role to play in the execution of the plan, a very important role. Notwithstanding that I may be a part of the formal NEMA Team; never the less I am expected to take certain type of action during emergencies if only knowing who to call.

With that said the plan should have a dedicated year round communication / public relations / marketing program. Essentially, hurricane or rather emergency response should become a part of our vocabulary. We should take a page from the Japanese, who despite being in one of the most earthquakes prone areas have taken extraordinary steps to prepare is people for such events.

Emily Rauhala in the March 11, 2011 Time World article writes;

“Emergency drills organized by public and private organizations work, among other things, to transport "stranded" commuters from their offices to their homes. Japan's tsunami warning service, set up in 1952, consists of 300 sensors around the archipelago, including 80 aquatic sensors that monitor seismic activity 24/7.”
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2058390,00.html#ixzz2AgtNmkqi

Japan is an ideal example for us here in the Bahamas because they too are a country made up of several islands and have the task of reproducing central government several times over. On this point the citizenry must be educated on the fact that operation a country of this archipelagic type is a lot more complicated that it appears. Central government must with limited resources attempt to provide the same service to the family islands, a difficult task to say the least. On this note can someone tell me why we do not have access to helicopters that can do more than fly overs, but bring resources quick time into impacted areas?

The predictability of hurricanes demands a more comprehensive readiness effort by the government, government must lead this effort in my opinion with implementing new regulations regarding emergency situations and utilizing the expertise available in the private sector. It also demands the private sector to be more involved in the planning efforts as they related to preparedness and response. Overall there is room for much improvement across the board on all sides our situation is unique when compared to many of our neighbors in the region, thus we must ensure that our efforts to manage this and other emergencies goes beyond the norm.

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The Importance of a Good Security Team

A few years ago I had the pleasure of working for a major developer / investor here in the Bahamas, who specialized in gated communities and is a major player in 3 of the high end communities in the Bahamas and the crème de la crème in Orlando. In my meetings with him as head of security he shared the fact that security was the major selling point for these residential properties. If the home owner does not feel safe, they will not buy and if they do; they will sell immediately if crime and loss are not managed properly. Many other professionals and world leaders share the same perspective, in fact if a company decides to close its doors, the last persons to leave are the security force. This illustrates the importance of security to the success of any business.


The significance of a professional security department is exemplified with the actions of the Atlantis Security Team on Sunday September 22, 2012. There preparedness and response of security ensured that the apparent robbery attempt was not successful. We have seen the media and social network blitz of the events with police cars and police officer parading with guns. I dread to think if the security team failed and the police had to take control of the incident. This is not to say that our men in blue cannot handle crisis events, but most certainly their priority would be different from the vested interest of proprietary guard force. Added to this is the multi-layered approach that must be taken to implementing and managing a protection services for a huge property like Atlantis, the police would have been at a disadvantage.


Ok, I know that you are going to say that I get around, but in a good way. I recall a while back, having the opportunity to see behind the scenes of a major theme park in Orlando, and efforts to ensure that patrons were safe. The security department’s mantra back then was “To Reduce and Eliminate Crime and the Fear of It”. At the time I questioned what I felt was an unrealistic goal, ‘eliminate’ was impossible. I was told by the Director of Safety and Security of the property that he too being a former police officer at one time considered the idea to be unachievable. Never the less he stressed that “unlike policing where the claim to fame is how many crimes have been solved, in security the claim to fame is crime not happening at all.”

If you have been following my column you will note that this is the driving theme for my writings where the police are reactive and security force must be proactive. In a business environment guest, visitors, and staff, cannot get robbed or even have slips and falls, thus preventing loss is key. It makes good business sense especially when you consider the difference in business models. Police are for the most part sponsored by the state and the public treasury, which is very difficult put out of business. On the other hand security forces are usually funded by private entities which can if negligence is perceived and proven can be found liable and incur heavy financial damages.


How do you find a good security force, here are my top 10.

1. Leadership – have a conversation with the leadership and include some of his deputies. If he or she is not professional and knowledgeable, then clearly the tone is set for the rest of the department / company.

2. Guard Quality – certainly the guard may not be at the same education level as that of the managers, but can they at least form a sentence and write.

3. Supervision – are the guards being monitored and visited on a regular basis or are they dropped and left at a site for an entire shift with no type of support services.

4. Policy and Procedures – do they exist, how is the management team ensuring that front-line officers and you as the customer are being made aware of what to do and the expectations.

5. Monthly / Quarterly reports – if the only contact you have with your security team leadership is billing or payroll, you certainly have a problem.

6. Multilayer Approach – is there a plan that encompasses not only the human resource but also electronic and physical assets be they cameras or locking of doors.

7. Emergency Management – what is the plan when everything that can go wrong does?

8. Training / Education – is training via seminars / workshops etc. being provided to the officers and your staff members.

9. Appearance – remember that the security guard in many instances is the first and last impression that people will have of your company, whether the officers are in house or contracted their dress and hygiene is critical.

10. What is being said about their service – solicit feedback from staff and guest, do they feel safe and are they satisfied with the level of service.


The above list is no particular order but in my opinion training and leadership are key to success. The quality of you guard force is really dependent on you as the purchaser and remember you get what you pay for. Too many times company leadership in an effort to cut cost and save money choose a low end security team but unrealistically anticipate high end results.


While listening to the comments of the Minister of National Security and Atlantis CEO regarding the event, they both harped on the excellent response by the Atlantis Team. From what I know thus far, I certainly agree it is job well done.


Gamal Newry is the president of Preventative Measures, loss prevention and asset protection training and consulting company, specializing in policy and procedure development, business security reviews and audits, and emergency and crisis management. Comments can be sent to PO Box N-3154 Nassau, Bahamas, or e-mail gnewry@gmail.com or visit us at www.preventativemeasures.org


--
Regards,
Gamal

Stay Safe, Stay Strong
Be Safe, Be Strong

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Crime vs. Loss: Knowing the Difference

In a modern society, there is no other issue I believe that is more significant than that of protecting our assets. Daily most of us are all focused on acquiring wealth for a better lifestyle and maintaining our freedom, thus it is only natural that the next logical step would be to protect what we have obtained. But what have we obtained? It is exactly the people and things which are valuable to us, that in one way or another, dictate what and who we are. The debate now is not whether we have misplaced our values, but rather to what extent are we prepared to go to keep what is precious to us. That ‘extent’ is asset protection, that ‘extent’ is loss prevention, which we collectively call security or whatever we choose to call it. Simply put, it is keeping what you have safe and secure.

History tells us that people the world over has without a question always thrown there support to the person or group who was prepared to protect the values of that particular society. That is why I believe there will always be employment for the banker, the accountant, soldier, police, auditor and security officer. Why? Because these professionals are assigned to protect what we have worked so hard to obtain. Thus it is my opinion that the acquisition of wealth will always play second seat to the ability to protect wealth. Or maybe the two actions are so intertwined that there really is no difference in them.

Especially of significance is the term "loss prevention" as it sums up all that relates to this topic. The introduction of loss then requires us to carefully strategize our asset protection initiatives. In essence we are trying to stop and if this not successful limit loss of or valuables and really in the wider picture our way of life. With all the loss avenues available to us it seems that securing our valuables may be a daunting task if not impossible. When we consider natural events such as hurricanes and other weather anomaly, then the reality of crime or man-made events, it is very difficult to see ones way out. However the luxury of not developing strategies to survive whatever life throws at us does not exist, really it is a necessity almost like breathing, as it ensures a future.

We must appreciate the word ‘loss’, which is the removal or absence of assets usually via controllable or uncontrollable means. Thus it should be understood that all crime is loss, but not all loss is criminal. The stealing of a car is loss via a crime, as stealing is defined a crime, however the falling of a tree by strong wind on a car, is also the loss of the car.

To ensure that no one is left behind in this discussion, certain foundations must be laid so that you better appreciate my perspective in the matter at hand. It is difficult sometimes to differentiate what is an asset, but it can be broken down into these four components:

People
Property
Information
Reputation

How one defines loss is the critical next step as it varies from organization to organization, and country to country. I have chosen to start with an explanation of crime as I see it. It is not the only way to lose an asset, but it is the most familiar, and one that I think is the easiest to control. Additionally it is of most concern to the corporate sector. Yes it too varies from profession to profession, and sector to sector however, almost all crime events are universal and are seen as loss events that impact revenue.

This starting point sets the stage for the protection strategies that will follow, just as any good physician attempts to find out what the problems are before presenting his diagnosis.

Then what is crime, pray tell? Really, this phenomenon is the choice to do what is wrong, and having full knowledge understanding of what is right. Then some could ask, what is right or wrong? These positives and negatives, yin and yang concepts, are stepped very much into the society where the act is taking place. Cultural perceptions, and conditioning cause us to accept what is right or wrong. But never the less if one is in China, or here in The Bahamas, because of his/her environmental conditioning, then they are aware of the wrong doing or right doing.

What then of the stranger? This individual unfortunately is not free from being a criminal, because of his / her naivety rather they are punished if only for the mandatory 48 hours, which most jurisdictions practice, until their actions are pardoned with the direct instructions of not to do it again.

The definition above is the simple way out, there will however be legal and psychological minds that will attempt to make the matter more complex than necessary. This approach is fine because it only illustrates the need to adequately outline what is criminal, ensuring appropriate accountability for crime.

Gamal Newry is the president of Preventative Measures, loss prevention and asset protection training and consulting company, specializing in policy and procedure development, business security reviews and audits, and emergency and crisis management. Comments can be sent to PO Box N-3154 Nassau, Bahamas, or e-mail gnewry@gmail.com or visit us at www.preventativemeasures. org

Getting Inside is the Easy Part

The biggest challenge with access control is that successful business’s want people to come inside and purchase merchandise or benefit from a particular service. Whether it is 1st Street and Main, or at a World Wide Web address, an open invitation is given to all to 'come on in'.

In addition these businesses need full time staff, contracted, service providers and vendors to operate. Filtering out those who pose a threat to commerce as opposed to those who are genuine presents a clear and present danger to its success. When this is looked at comprehensively many organizations have just as much entry points as perhaps our archipelago of islands, thus it can be a daunting task. How does a company screen these potential hazards, and yet keep the authentic customer and employee coming back without making them fear for their lives and being so restrictive like a prison?

The variety of possibilities is endless, and will impact physical and electronic security initiatives as well as electronic and data transmissions. In addition the hiring process must also be seen as an access control tool, considering the penetration employees have to high value corporate information.

The crime prevention planner, law enforcement personnel, security consultant, property manager, architect, and human resources professional must put theory into practice to address community disorder, workplace violence, street crime, or acts of terrorism.

Generally the applications of such procedures and strategy can be summed up as follows:

*Permit or deny entry to or presence in a given place.

*Increase or reduce the rate or density of movement to, from, or within a defined place.

*Protect persons, materials, or information against unauthorized observation or removal.

*Prevent injury to people or damage to material.


It is important to be clear which objective is sought, because that influences the type and degree of reliability, and most certainly cost of the control procedures and equipment.

You are reminded that one of the lessons from September 11, 2001, is that primary targets of penetration which received the most damage and loss were all privately owned business, not government operated facilities. Types of organizations being targeted are largely;

When compared to government operations these targets are considered soft
The potential for collateral damage is increased
There are a variety of techniques to employ in granting or denying access to a given place, people or information. These techniques, some as simple as a deadbolt and pad lock on the door, others as sophisticated as coded card access systems and biometrics; all are intended to protect against unauthorized entry, use and abuse of information.

Never the less we are reminded that in far too many instances the person on the inside pose the greatest threat. By negligence or intentional acts employees account for higher rates of loss in a business. In one case, major losses from a locked storeroom occurring over an extended period of time, were traced back to a second-shift supervisor who had devised a tool to open the door to the storeroom in order to fulfill production needs. On a routine basis, he sent an employee to the area to get stock items necessary for the job. In time, all of the employees learned how to enter the locked storeroom, and some began to remove other items for their own personal use or for sale if they had an outside market value. The supervisor, an individual with a high sense of personal integrity, was shocked to learn of the role that he had played in the theft, when it was finally uncovered.

A deeply rooted fallacy among business managers and owners is that security begins and ends with the security officer at the gate or entrance. These persons feel that access control is the responsibility of the uniformed security service, and any losses can be attributed to performance failures on the part of the security staff rather than the administrative or operating departments. All employees have a role to play in protecting the company from loss, certainly for loss to occur the perpetrator must first get inside.

Birds of a Feather

Reducing Crime in The Bahamas

At the time of writing this, I am at the 58th American Society for Industrial Security Conference here in the “City of Brotherly Love” Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has been a busy first two days with class starting from Sunday and we are still at it. It is always good when liked minded professionals come together to share in fellowship, it almost feels like church.

Forums like these remind you that there are many shared concerns, opportunities and threats. A collaborative approach benefits all stake holders and more importantly reminds us that we are all in this together. In his book’ Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty’ Harvey Mackey stresses the importance of building good relationships before you need to draw on them, essentially the power of the network. I am reminded that this fact holds fast for my profession as well.

That is why events like these are so refreshing and energizing. Every security professional should ensure that they maintain a professional network that is global in its perspective. This is important on many fronts because as much as we would like to think that we are unique; The Bahamas is very much like any other part of the world.

Sitting at lunch this past Sunday it was interesting to listening to my counterparts from around the globe speak regarding their concerns of the increased violence that is plaguing their respective country. No one it seems was immune from this wave of violence. It appears that the young men all over the world were becoming more violent and have disrespect and disregard for life.

So what of the male in our society, what has gone wrong? Many positions were posed be it the lack of a father figure, the increase it was termed ultra-liberalism or prosperity and materialism. How do we correct and change the mindset? A national service, clearly the parents have failed or rather not equipped thus civic, church, and government, must step in to save the country. This was the consensus agreed upon by over 6 representative nations. Sounded very familiar, I heard this before, it appears that we have the answers but are afraid to act on them.

As we spoke on this topic on this cool Sunday afternoon, came the roar of motorcycles by the dozens in downtown Philly, I smiled to myself ‘mudda sick, this Nassau aye’. But just has our society has embraced this Sunday afternoon show of mechanical muscle so too, the increase in violent crime is not unique to The Bahamas.

Sitting at this informal international summit I am reminded also that crime and violence are relative, as some of us complained about loud disruptive noise of the bikes, others got up to take photos of this spectacle.’ Comparative Generalism’, is a concept I regularly teach as we too often over exaggerate the bad by making all-encompassing comprehensive statements, which are not real and fuel fear. As it really would appear that only Nassau is experiencing crime and the rest of The Bahamas is not; this is simply quantified by the fact that New Providence, not really Nassau, has the greater proportion of the population.

Never the less when we see cities like New York, Kingston, and London, with declining crime statistics, we have to ask ourselves what we are doing wrong. In London a city with over 7 million people in the last 10 years the murder rate has dropped to half of what it was. London interestingly enough, attributes this to better response by paramedics, and here I thought it was an aggressive crime prevention strategy by the police. Essentially, if medical response is improved, that potential murder victim may rather becomes a victim of assault or attempted murder.

So can it be said that lack of proper medical response to these shootings and stabbings may have in some way attributed to the increase in the murder rate in The Bahamas? Perhaps a play on the numbers, but I would say well played indeed. This really speaks to looking at the whole forest as opposed to just focusing on a few trees, and being caught up in the emotion and sensationalism. Have we considered the response time of ambulances, perhaps paramedics can ride with police officers or government operated clinics can remain open until 12am?

But wait, other jurisdictions have increased the amount of school time for known delinquents, where they were made to do community service and in another the authority’s banned the playing of the violent video games by persons under the age of 15 years. There was talk of curfews for persons under the age of 21, and everyone had to have some form of ID. Drastic measures some say, but I am certain many more of us would say desperate times. As the echo of the motorbike gangs continued to rumble and echo of the tall building of this historic city, I could not help but think of my historic little city and my country.

These innovative ideas speak to determined societies which realize that crime is not political problem, it is a national problem. Being tough on crime must be more than a saying, but a state of being. New comprehensive ideas that go beyond the police are clearly needed. We know this, yet we continue to ‘double’ our efforts, have ‘zero tolerance’ - tactics must be focused at the causation factors not the resultant factors. These conclusions were applicable to anyone of the 6 countries represented at this Sunday's lunch. We must then be in good company. Sadly none of us are happy about the state of affairs developing in our home lands, we all agreed that based on the present conditions the next 20 years will see an even worsening global condition as it relates to crime and violence.

Gamal Newry is the president of Preventative Measures, loss prevention and asset protection training and consulting company, specializing in policy and procedure development, business security reviews and audits, and emergency and crisis management. Comments can be sent to PO Box N-3154 Nassau, Bahamas, or e-mail gnewry@gmail.com or visit us at www.preventativemeasures. org

The Need for Regular Review of Loss Prevention Programs

How often do you go to the doctor for a checkup? For most of us it not as often as it should be and perhaps for even more of us it is when something is wrong and we need to fix it. Certainly we would all agree that this is not the best approach, but none the less we do it still the same. As we get older or body either become more prone to catching some type of virus or we build up an immunity and strong resistance. But really does invulnerability exist, or have we simply addressed a particular threat, remaining open to the countless others.

We inevitably become victims to the next attack, as no attack regardless of similarity is the same. Time, availability of resources, and yes the current condition of your health and wellness program will impact how you respond and your recovery efforts. This concept should be considered with regards to your companies’ security efforts, as the saying goes ‘an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure’.

But before we go any further, when thinking of security I prefer to use the term ‘Loss Prevention Program’. In the first instance ‘loss prevention’ speaks to any incident or event that may cause the forfeiture of assets, and if you are a fan of my writing then you know that there are 4 types are; 1) People, 2) Property, 3) Information and 4) Reputation. The word security has been relegated to crime loss, whereas loss prevention speaks to loss resulting from;

A. Human Error - negligence / intentional / accidental etc.

B. Natural Disasters - hurricanes, severe weather conditions, earthquakes and tornados etc.

C. Mechanical Failure – wear and tear

Also program speaks to multifaceted approach to mitigate these inherent risks associated with operations. Be they internal controls, physical and electronic security, there are no ‘magic bullets’ thus the initiatives must work in unison together to accomplish the continuous task of preventing loss.

With that said, what is the condition of your loss prevention program and when was the last time it received a good checkup? If the answer is never or not with in the last 6 months they perhaps you should conduct one. When doing so you must ask the following questions;

1. The nature of our business and what matters most?

2. Where / what country do you do business in?

3. What other business types operate in your immediate area?

4. What threats are we prone to because of industry?

5. Who will own the program and lead the initiatives?

6. How can we strengthen our existing systems, making them robust, resilient, efficient, and effective?

7. How much are we prepared to spend to maintain what we have in place?

8. How much are we prepared to spend to make improvements on the current program?

9. What impact will these improvements have on staff and customer relationships?

10. How often should we review / revisit the program?

These are all important factors to consider and cost certainly is the major determining factor, especially because the return on investment for security infrastructure is not as tangible as other capital costs. Never the less is very important part of doing business, so the investment must be made, but reasonable and practical process need to be taken. Hence the importance of analyzing initially and on a continuing basis the proficiency and success of the loss prevention program.


Gamal Newry is the president of Preventative Measures, loss prevention and asset protection training and consulting company, specializing in policy and procedure development, business security reviews and audits, and emergency and crisis management. Comments can be sent to PO Box N-3154 Nassau, Bahamas, or e-mail gnewry@gmail.com or visit us at www.preventativemeasures. org

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22194:couple-claims-robbers-disguised-as-campaigners-burglarized-their-home&catid=3:news&Itemid=27

This is The Season

Hello to All, thanks for your support, words of encouragement, and critical analysis, it is greatly appreciated. To you and yours from the team here at Preventative Measures, Bahamas Safety NET Kids, and Island Martial Arts, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

The following suggestions are recommended not just for this time of the year, but all the time.

Trust Your Gut - we all have a built in alarm system that sends alerts to us when something just is not right. So if you are approached by a stranger and even it is someone you know / or arrive home and things do not look normal withdraw yourself from the situation. Better safe than sorry!

Travel in Groups - when working late / attending events / shopping etc. 2 heads are always better than one, in fact the more the merrier. The chance of you being selected are less likely if you are in a group.

Vehicular Maintenance - Keep your car in good working condition. If you get a flat in an isolated area drive to a 24 hour operation and call someone / police. If it is late and the vehicle stops moving, remain in the car and call for assistance / inclusive of the police.

Cell Phone Use - Keep your cell properly charged at all times, put emergency numbers and reliable family member and friends on speed dial. Develop emergency codes to alert persons that you are being followed or need help now.

Party Time - If you are the designated driver do your best to keep sober and be alert,(I will have enough fun for the 2 of us, that is what friends are for) If end up being left alone on the drive home, call someone who can be on the phone with you until you are safely inside your home. Also have them call you back 10 - 15 minutes later. This also applies if you are coming to work early or leaving late.

While Driving - Always drive with all doors locked and be alert to your surroundings. If you feel that you are being followed do not stop your car or go directly home. Go to nearest 24 hour operation (police station / gas station / laundry mat etc.) Also sound your horn in an effort to draw attention to yourself, do speed just keep driving.

Armed Robbery Response - If being robbed of money / jewelry / car etc. let the robber have everything, do not look them in their face, and be as calm as possible, offering no resistance.

Physical Assault - If you or a loved one become the direct target of aggression where the person is trying to abduct, rape, or hurt you....., FIGHT LIKE HELL!

Improvised Weapons - Keys, shoes, flashlight, pens, cell phones, laptops, belts, umbrella, bags, etc. Targeting eyes, mouth, nose, throat, ears, genitals, knees and shins.

PRAY - Learn how to pray before - protection from evil, during - strength to over come evil and after - deliverance from evil.

Stay Safe, Stay Strong
Be Safe, Be Strong

Gamal Newry

The Numbers Game Continues

We are still playing the numbers game, counting the casualties as opposed to presenting proactive actions to manage the crisis.

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12337&Itemid=27

http://www.tribune242.com/

Large Seizure By Police and Customs Officials

This recent capture by the police, is concerning as the amount of weapons seized makes one wonder what were the intentions of the persons ordering these weapons.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2337299434896&oid=42717569973&comments

Poor literacy correlates to high crime

http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/preventative-measure-gamal-newry/Poor_illiteracy_correlates_to_high_crime1266.shtml

This article first appeared in Jul 2007,

Further to the discussion stated in Mondays Tribune J. Barrie Farringtion and picked yesterday by Phillip Simon, concerning the educational dilemma facing the nation. It is my suggestion that the spree of violent crime that we now are experience is directly related to the poor academic achievement in our schools. That is to say that there exist a major correlation between poor education and crime. As if education wasn't important enough to our nation's future and ability to compete in the world, we seem to be ignoring the fact that in terms of dollars and "sense" we are spending millions on putting more and more people in prison while neglecting the very thing that could alleviate the problem.

Brian Nutt states in Tuesday Tribune that,

"We are see applications from persons who lack the necessary skills"

J Barrie Farrington sums it up appropriately when he says in the Tribune

"What we are looking at is a failure of immense consequences. It is a real nightmare, a horror movie..."

Having worked in law enforcement all of my life I have experienced this nightmare firsthand. On many occasions I have dealt with suspects and perpetrators of violent crime who could not even spell their name let alone read the statement that I had to write for them. To add insult to injury, but really this is an accompany symptom, the comprehension level was greatly diminished resulting from a limited vocabulary or one that which consistent with the mainstream.

So when Phillip Simon according to Tuesday's Tribune says "We operate in a service based economy which requires high level of interaction with person form all over the world'

Is he speaking to the inability of the poorly educated person to relate and reason out simple problems, basically because they cannot understand what is being said or written? Illiteracy is a major barrier to communications it is indeed how we communicate let aside form basing in the head a fellow human being because they just did not understand what was being said or the frustration of communicating my ideas.

It is this frustration I believe that cause persons to react violently and irrationally, the problem in their opinion seems so overwhelming that they resort to the basic of human instinct's 'kill or be killed'. This reaction is normal as all of us have it, however how quickly we arrive at this alternative means that we would have exhausted all others.

Is this concept unique to the Bahamas, a 1996 separate studies by Harvard and Berkeley examined this correlation, an according to Bruce Kennedy, the lead researcher of the Harvard study, "The size of the gap between the wealthy and less well-off, as distinct from the absolute standard of living enjoyed by the poor, appears to be related to mortality." accompanied by the following social problems:

• Higher rates of homicide.
• Higher rates of violent crime.
• Higher rates of incarceration.
• Higher rates of unemployment

The list is not complete and there were quite a few problems but what stood for me is the item on the list that said

• Poorer educational performance, including worse reading skills, worse math skills.

Sounds familiar, I wonder if we from a national perspective realize how all echelons of society affected each other. Earlier I mentioned my time as a police officer having ot deal with the various criminals. There were many attempts to reason and justify their deviance, one of which came vary regularly, that is; they see the banker, lawyer, politician and religious leader committing the same or similar offence. So the rational is if they can do it then why can't I.

What compounds this crisis is that education is usually equated with high salary, higher standards of living. I do not necessary agree with this concept. However this is what is being taught in the schools and our various formal social systems. So are we to say failure to succeed in academics, sentences a great number of our population to a life of crime.

Now for clarity I must interject that I am quite aware that most of the high dollar loss crime events occur in the financial and business sector and perpetrated by more educated and affluent individuals. However the more violent high loss of life crimes are committed by the less educated poorer members of our society.

Gamal Newry is the President of Preventative Measures, a Loss Prevention and Asset Protection Training and Consulting Company, specializing in Policy and Procedure Development, Business Security Reviews and Audits, & Emergency and Crisis Management. Comments can be sent to P.O. Box N-3154 Nassau, Bahamas or, email; info@ preventativemeasures.org or visit us atwww.preventativemeasures.org

http://www.tribune242.com/news/06012011_-tt-pmoncrime_news_pg1

Who is at Fault for Armed Robbery?

Recently the city of Nassau was shocked to hear of a bold daytime robbery of a major department store on Bay Street. The location was not so much an issue as there have been numerous criminal incidents on Bay Street. What shocked the town was that this event occurred at about 10am on a Sunday morning. In a recent letter to the editor of the Tribune the writer implies that the police have come under unfair criticism for the apparent lack of presence on Bay Street that may have contributed to the success of this robbery.

Patrols whether on foot or via motor vehicles, by way of police or security personnel are intended to deter potential law breakers and observe potential safety hazards. This along with post duties are probably some of the oldest functions of law enforcement and security services. The implementing of the patrol function should not be haphazard or random. It must be properly planned taking into account time of day, area to be focused on, and especially the occupants and individuals frequenting the area. With this said I reference you to an article I wrote back in May 2009 that appeared in this same publication, referring to the apparent practice of the police to reduce deployment on Sundays. In my article I write of a drive from the Carmichael Road area out to Lyford Cay to the Cable Beach Strip, Downtown and out East and not seeing any police on patrol.

The absence or lack thereof of police patrols regardless of the defense put forward does in my opinion increase opportunities for criminality. The police via their profession must take some responsibility for the level of crime in our society, but in this instance so must the Ministry of Tourism and the affected business. However, and this is a very important however, it is the primarily responsibility of the business owner or individual to take the necessary precautions to ensure that they are protected.

Being quite aware of the various risks concerning or related to their business, one must ask the question is enough being done to prevent crime. They have invited persons into their establishment, and must endeavor to do their best to ensure that the location is safe and secure. Thus my concern is that there has been very little or no criticism of the efforts being taken by local business owners, on Bay Street or where ever, to implement adequate preventative measures.

Further, what are the security requirements for operating a particular business? Here again is an opportunity for government to legislate certain criteria that a business owner must implement as it regards to loss prevention. We cannot simply allow persons affected by crime to get away with blaming the police, government and the criminals, they are not in my opinion sufficiently chastised or mandated to take certain precautions.

Preventative Measures in loss prevention is much more than hiring an armed off-duty police officer. Loss prevention's best practice demands a multilayered approach to safeguarding assets. These layers include but are not limited to:


Security and Crime Risk Assessment

A vital and fundamental first step in any effort to protecting your business that is too often overlooked or conducted with major focus on crime risk and negating the security risks. You have heard me say many times via this column that there are some elementary differences between policing and security. Essentially security is proactive with its major focus on prevention, whereas policing is reactive with a major focus on detection and apprehension. The assessment is a review of your business type, operating hours, location, and policies, with the intent of providing both proactive and reactive strategies.


Initial and Continuous Employee Backgrounds Checking

This initiative is not given much attention after employment, many business owners do not consider that circumstances, finances and ethics can change over the course of the relationship with the organization. These checks should also extend to the service providers, be they the cleaners or the water delivery guy. All of these persons including staff have access to your proprietary information, security practices and business operations. Within reason you need to become intimately knowledgeable of your staff and who they associate with off hours.


Physical Security

Doors, windows, locks, showcases, decorations etc., all speak to the infrastructure and also how items are placed in the space you occupy. A better known concept is called Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and is the science of placement, angles, and lighting to influence movement and actions for better visibility and surveillance. The attractiveness for customers must be weighed against the perception it may possibly give to would-be criminals.


Electronic Security

This is a vital element of any modern protection program for one simple reason. They are active 24 hours a day and do not take breaks. These systems have become so sophisticated that you can now have alerts emailed to your smart phone inclusive of video. These devices can be placed into 3 major categories.

Intrusion Detection – these are devices such as motion sensors and glass breaks that advise that a restricted or secure area has be accessed.

Panics – This is the device used to alert police and other response personnel that an emergency event is or has occurred. These devices are usually placed at key locations in the business and can be silent or alarm notification. It is very important that a policy on when to activate these alarms is developed and practice as they can also increase risk

CCTV – The ever popular camera system. No other device in my opinion in the last 15 years has been given more attention and perceived to be the ‘magic bullet’ regarding security and safety. Much of the perceived ability of a surveillance system is myth, thus giving rise to unrealistic outcomes. In any event these devices must be trained on staff and customers alike, taking into account panoramas, lighting, camera speed and amount of memory necessary.


Access Control

This component speaks to not only to who enters your business but also how they move in and around your location. The concept has also evolved to what they are able to see be it business operations, the location of cameras, and vaults. A very difficult layer to manage if you are open to the public coming in and browsing your goods, however staff and yourself should be trained to observe for suspicious individuals and behavior.


Awareness Training

A very vital layer as it helps staff to understand the role they play in ensuring a safe working environment. This education must be ongoing, timely, and exciting. There is a vast amount of topics that can be covered from responding to robberies, opening and closing procedures and the importance of confidentiality. The drive of this practice is to develop a team approach to loss prevention and asset protection. This should also include visible signage, and regularly review policies and procedures. The training can be formal via discussions during staff meetings, seminars and workshops or informal via informative fliers posted in staff rooms and notice boards.

Knowledge is power and business owners must be empowered with comprehensive strategies and tactics to reducing their exposure to crime. The fact of the matter is the blame game is not beneficial to any of us in these current conditions just as the layers I mention above, solutions must be multidiscipline with persons contributing to the crime reduction efforts. The police are working but there job becomes more difficult when poor operational practices and apparent disregard become major factors in creating opportunities for crime.


Gamal Newry is the president of Preventative Measures, a loss prevention and asset protection training and consulting company, specializing in policy and procedure development, business security reviews and audits, and emergency and crisis management. Comments can be sent to PO Box N-3154 Nassau, Bahamas, or e-mail info@preventativemeasures.org or visit us at www.preventativemeasures.org

Crime Reduction Strategies: Rules of Engagement

Crime Reduction Strategies: Rules of Engagement

“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

No folks not some fantasy of mine and yes sometimes this is easier said than done but these are the types of tactics we need to develop. Whereas I am quite aware of the need to fight in necessary, but certainly it would be easier to engage our young men and women before we see them doing the ‘Bank Lane shuffle’, before hear the cries of 'not my good child'. With this in mind, I challenge everyone to reach out via a youth group or in your neighborhood to our young men and women, let them know there is hope.

It is the NBA Playoffs and like some of our not-so-favorite teams it appears that the criminals are leading by several games. What’s the game plan, where are our super stars, and our bench, we need some help As we muddle over what is the next best move, and who is going to make that buzzer sounding 3 pointer, our society is being pounded into the ground. Please note that Gamal is no big fan of the sport of basketball, for reason that will require an article all on its own. I am however a martial artist and ‘Newry Knows Combat’ and basketball like the life has hero's and villains depending on what side you pull for. Let me begin by telling you the secret of combat and self defense, without you even having to step into my school and take one of my self defense classes. Here goes, the key, secret to winning any fight is ‘Speed – Surprise – Commitment’ not skill, resources, or knowledge, but simply the unexpected fast and determined actioning of an assault on specific target. This is how the underdog wins, they eliminate the anticipatory tactics that they have become know for, and do the unorthodox. If you do not believe me then listen to what Sun Tzu, the famous Chinese strategist and tactician has to say;

“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

And

Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.”

Or better yet as ‘NIKE ‘says ‘Just Do It’

The continued announcement that we are at war with criminals in my opinion projects that the opposing side has a cause worthy of their efforts, justifying their means and bringing creditability to their goals and lifestyle. Frankly this continued declaration of war is empowering the criminal and creating or rather created a culture that is protected and idolized. Then to fuel this accreditation we tell all and sundry of our actions, strategy, and plans. We get on TV, call a press conference and let the whole world know that with this tactic and strategy we will get them this time; only to come the following month in another press conference speaking of the next attack on crime. Please note, the criminals are not making announcement and calling press conference about their success and failure rate. On the other hand they act without hesitation at whatever and whomever they choose. Perhaps they have studied Sun Tzu. The recent robbery of a major department store in the heart of downtown Nassau, is and example of this.

When I teach a class or conduct a seminar on self defense as best as possible I avoid discussions on the numbers or statistics, as this information is of little help when you’re pinned on the ground and a knife at your throat. It is all about fighting – surviving – telling the story, because everyone likes a winner. Similarly I would venture to say that the deviant is not concerned about the crime rate or how much robberies were committed last year and the victim type. These individuals are in it for the championship rings and all.

If our so called ‘War on Crime’ as implied recently by the the May 9, 2011 Nassau Guardians National Review 'Who is winning the War on Crime?. The article speaks about the apparent failure to convict alleged wrong doers. In my opinion a fundamental understanding of this element as Sun Tzu suggest,

'war is a very grave matter for the state, and must not be commenced without due consideration'

is missing from the in the first instance, the Public, The Church, and The Government. If we do not appreciate the detrimental consequences of not subduing this issue then we will be destroyed. In fact I believe we are slowly evolving into a victim society as it appears that we have given up hope on maintaining the normalcy we call civilization. We are making criminals to be warriors or soldiers in an army that is invading our country. At this point in our history we as a country must realize that we must be better prepared to deal with crime, and begin preemptive attacks long before the police go chasing and investigating. Definitely before they are sent before the courts, all of these are reactive responses; leave us as a society playing catch up. This is insanity as we know that crime is and will happen; why we are not better prepared at this point is unacceptable.

Sun Tzu says this about war;

“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable”

The criminal is here, they will come and they are not going anywhere. So what are you, rather what are we going to do? Essentially we must be prepared to seize opportunities when they present themselves and become flexible and adaptable to changing trends and culture. As it stands now, the approach to reducing crime is stagnant and producing minimal results, the Guardians Article cannot be anymore clear. The return for investment in man hours, be they at the policing level or persecutory level cannot be compared to the cost increased crime is having on our value of living. It would appear that we are fighting a losing battle.

As mentioned in previous articles it is better empowering social services, schools and the NGO’s like swim clubs, martial art schools, the Boys Brigade, Scouts and Pathfinders with finances to support their proven tactics. Creating legislation that gives these agencies and organization more teeth to affect their programs. When teaching self defense I do not teach wait for them to attack and then counter, I teach if you see 2 guys walking towards you ‘get ready – be ready’, you are already losing if you are reacting to the attack. Yes I do teach walking or running away if you feel overwhelmed, but where does a country run, where can the public hide? We must face this situation head on, but we have to change our approach. When we are responding to crime by buying more police cars and hiring more prosecutors we are losing.

Know who your friends are, your enemies will reveal themselves!

I am of the opinion that the death of Osama bin Laden at this point in history has very little affect on the current global terrorism community. In fact his killing has the potential to be of more harm than good. Certainly from a political standpoint it gives the current President a good boost, never the less terrorism is here to stay. Terrorism despite its fanfare and apparent ‘aweing’ of the public is and will always be a criminal act. An as all criminals do, the terrorist seeks to use fear to accomplish their goals and draw attention to their particular cause. The events over the weekend regarding the capture of the ‘Most Wanted Man’ in US history can provide many great lesson for us here in the Bahamas regarding the crime situation and creating a safe community if only the perception of the same.
But before we dive in, for those of you cannot be bothered, I will give you a heads up as to what lessons I believe can be learnt from this ‘historical event’. The lessons learnt are:
1. Know who your friends are, your enemies will reveal themselves.
2. Crime in the long the run does not pay, however the ride can be pretty sweet.
3. There is nothing wrong with a little aggressive persuasive discussion.
I can, as I am sure many of you can recall what you were doing on that dreadful September morning back in 2001. It is amazing how time flies as it is now ten years ago as the world watched the airlines crash into New Yorks World Trade Center. This is how the public knowledge of the name Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda began, but definetly his first appearance in the global community. He and his group were in fact well known to the United States.
Osama bin Laden was on the world intelligence radar more than 15 years, from the Carter, Reagan, Clinton Administration, in fact an opportunity existed for the former US President Clinton to give the go ahead back in 1998. However they were unable to mobilize and Clinton declined to do so. At the time the US had invested much financial and human capital into the region and it appears that it became a decision based on timing, logistics, and priority, unfortunately as they say hind sight is 20 / 20.
So here we have a known and wanted terrorist, as by this time Al Qaeda had already orchestrated 2 attacks on US Embassies in Africa, yet no action was being taken to aggressively subdue and capture the individual. Thus allowing the group to gain courage and intensity into what we saw happen in September 2001.
Quite similarly we have the same condition here in the Bahamas, as we have our own type of terrorism. The citizens are afraid and being intimidated by criminals and the current violent crime trend. Listening to the police and government officials who indicate they know the offenders and worse yet know where they are; however it appears that government and its agencies are powerless to deal with the matter. What does this say to the ‘domestic terrorist’ the young man and woman walking, driving and living in our communities who we call friend and family. I believe just like the other bin Laden’s of the world; boldness and recognition is being sort after, so they too are planning their own 911 event. They will become bolder, and openly aggressive and violently challenge what call civilized.
But alas what can be done about these individuals who seek to corrupt our way of living by jeopardizing our safety. Put them jail and throw away the key you say, I say first you must catch them and secondly let’s really consider this whole concept of jail. Now it took the most powerful country in the world nearly 20 year to catch one man, do we have 20 years? I think not, and really that amount of time is unacceptable, but it appears that unless friends and neighbors are prepared to give up friends and neighbors we are in for a long ride. The dilemma of course now is determining who are really yours friends as opposed to those who are just giving you lip service. That is to say Bahamas, how many of us are really dedicated to benefit of the nation as opposed to those of us who are only concerned about selfish gain no matter what.
What can we learn from the Pakistani’s Government apparent friendship with the United States; who prior to September 11, were known to be promoting and encouraging Islamic Radicalism via support of terrorist groups like Al Qaeda. However, by their seemingly cooperation by giving the US access to airspace and land operations, they somehow became an ‘alley in the war against terrorism’. Never mind the US writing off several million dollars in debt owed by this country. But bear in mind that the Osama bin Laden had close relationships with Pakistan ISI (their equivalent to the CIA) and the Taliban. The November 2001 Wall Street Journal States,
“Despite their clean chins and pressed uniforms, the ISI men are as deeply fundamentalist as any bearded fanatic; the ISI created the Taliban as their own instrument and still support it.”
Further in his book ‘Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 Steve Coll states “According to notes taken at the meeting, Clinton says he had “asked repeatedly for Pakistani help to bring Osama bin Laden to justice… [Sharif] promised often to do so but had done nothing. Instead, the ISI worked with bin Laden and the Taliban to foment terrorists.”
I may be strongly criticized for this statement, but really folks have we seen any major decrease in crime by a policy of public participation. Frankly, who you think is your friend is not your friend and my neighbor is only concerned about my wellbeing if he / she feel it will benefit them. This is unfortunate in a country the size of the Bahamas that it appears that criminals are getting away with murder. Certainly this is not true for all of our relationships, however there is enough of a deficiency to really make one wonder.
Next week our discussion will continue on just this point, are the criminals getting away.., does crime pay?Gamal Newry is the President of Preventative Measures, a Loss Prevention and Asset Protection Training and Consulting Company, specializing in Policy and Procedure Development, Business Security Reviews and Audits, & Emergency and Crisis Management. Comments can be sent to P.O. Box N-3154 Nassau, Bahamas or, email info@preventativemeasures.org or visit us at www.preventativemeasures.org

2011 Crime Reduction Plan

As we enter 2011 let it bring to us and all of our families all peace, good health, and prosperity, if only in your mind. 2010 has been for all of us very trying and freighting as we continue watch as our country spirals down this path of destruction. It seems that we are helpless to do anything about it as we see scheme after scheme fail. Not one to live in the past as there is very little that can be done to change the past. Never the less it is to the past that we must look for lessons learnt to reduce our repetition of the same strategic and tactical errors. With this we must look positively to the future; as it is always what we make it, this is a conclusion that I came to many years ago. With that said I am confident that as the norm many challenges will come our way, so at minimum one should be mentally prepared to face these inevitable events.

One such event is the continued increase in crime and violence in our society, sorry if you were expecting to hear of reduction in criminality in the Bahamas. The present approach to crime management plays a pivotal role in this statement more than the affects that we see around us. For clarity I am not talking about the murders, robberies, assaults rapes etc. Rather the attempt to reduce crime by addressing the judiciary and police, as opposed to an all out attack of the social ills that cause crime. What appears to be missing or lacking from our society is an aggressive approach to reducing juvenile delinquency, which when left to fester evolves into the adult categorization we call crime. It is bewildering that Government Ministries such as Education, Social Services, Sports, Youth and Culture are not receiving more funding, aid and restructuring as a part of a national crime prevention program. The current philosophy of increased police and security presence, alarm systems, burglar bars, reduce cash on premises are all response to crime, not prevention. If one is to compare crime and social disobedience to a disease then the aforementioned ministries can be said to be the preventative and wellness programs; whereas the, surveillance systems, tracing anklets, law enforcement and the courts are likened to pills, emergency medicine, and surgery. For example in the last 10 years we have seen more shifts, reassignments, restructuring in the Police and Judiciary than in all 5 agencies combined. It is painfully obvious that problem is not the fruit which we are attempting to lock up and give harsher sentence to but the tree i.e. our social and cultural infrastructure. aa

What is wrong with the way the Police fight crime will be left for part 2 of this forecast, during this writing I am focusing on the causation factors as opposed to reactive measures.


Education

Has the education system failed regularly becomes a national debate when the results of the BGCSE and BJC are released. This argument has very far reaching ramifications that go beyond our nations ability to compete with the global market place and proving a qualified and deep pool of employable persons. It reflects our ability to communicated and relate to each other. Where there is a break down in communication there is confusion, which leads to frustration, anger, and violence. Rational and problem solving skills are greatly diminished because little Johnny cannot read. After several attempts to save money by purchasing and off market product only to find that the instructions are in every language but English, I have decided to stick with those products that have English as its’ primary form of communication. Of course the issue here is not the savings but the frustration in not being able to understand what was required. The low level of education speaks to the inability of persons to receive instructions but also there difficulty in understanding these directions. Out of unintended shame and embarrassment many times too many a violent responses is given.

‘Boys will be boys’ says the mother as her soon is arrested for the 3rd time for being in possession of marijuana. This is a truth that should not be laughed at but used to our advantage by creating more boys and girls only schools. It appears to me that many of young men and women are distracted and need assistance in prioritizing what is necessary for the various stages in their life. Studies have shown that there are noticeable changes in behavior and better academic performance when troubled young men are placed in a male only environment. Additionally we must realize, as if the need to bring in over 8,000 Chinese labors that not everyone is inclined to be a doctor, lawyer or scientist. We must find other alternatives such as masons, carpenters and mechanics that should be taught form junior high.

Social Services

What exactly is the role of social services in reducing crimes, how can they help? Well my experience with young men and women tells me that they are receiving another type of education besides the formal lesions in school. The ‘school of hard knocks’ regularly reminds these kids that they will not always have food to eat, uniform to wear or worse mommy or daddy to give them the love they need. It easy for those of us who have emotional, educational, and financial backing to sit on the side and critic, demand longer jail terms and hangs, but are we really addressing the problem. Lets be real Bahamas we all need love and the desire to be loved to make it through the day. With this ‘love’ to look forward to then really what is there to loose. Here I see the social worker as more than someone who hands out food stamps or is able to find shelter for the less fortunate but someone who can tap into that inner being and facilitate via church or some other civic group the help needed.


Sports

The social skill one learns from playing sports is terribly underrated and needs to be harnessed immediately. Team and individual sports besides fostering health lifestyles teach discipline, respect, patience, confidence, cooperation, to name a few; fundamental characteristics lacking in many of us today. I am convinced that organized sports programs are one of the most powerful weapons that we have to fighting and reducing crime. Be it tennis, swimming, golf, any of the martial arts discipline, tack and field; we are missing the learning and molding opportunities that these physical and mental disciplines offer. Let’s not get confused, the purpose here is not to create world champions but better Bahamians.

Youth

Forgive my ignorance but what exactly does this ministry do aside for organizing an annual youth march? If we sincerely believe in the statements that ‘children are the future’ and ‘children are the wealth of a nation’, then this division of government must receive more attention, planning, and investment. The primary focus of which must be in the young men, I am not chauvinist but I firmly believe that the man is the fundamental backbone to a healthy society. Where we have seen the decline in good male leadership we have seen a direct increase in moral decay and crime. No I did conduct a research or hire some consultant, I just live here. What amazes me is that already in place are groups such as the Boy’s Brigade, Boys Scouts that can cater to this training of our young men but they lack the funding. Boy’s need to be taught how to be men and lead, we can hope for it to happen with seriously placing effort into the process. Think about it who are the main perpetrators of social disorder and crimes, we all know the answer but yet we are not attempting to get to the source.

Culture

The identity crisis being experience in our country has in my opinion been a major catalyst to the social and moral decay we are currently experiencing. Frankly if you do not know who you are then nothing and no one really matters. What is worse is when an individual is left to discover what his / her purpose on their own is. This hit and miss approach to self discovery is extremely dangerous and wasteful; we must remember what we are loosing are lives not money of some other property. A strong cultural appreciation is key to fostering a strong national pride, where a greater sense of ownership is instilled. This approach to crime reduction makes the Bahamian more than a caretaker but a stakeholder. This taps into the survivalist nature that we all have when it comes to protecting our own. It brings to life again the chorus ‘this land is my land this land your land’ come to life again.


This may be seen as unusual way to start you crime reduction initiatives, but in my opinion it goes to root causes, with specific attempts to kill the seeds that grow into chaotic and freighting lives we are living know. For this refocusing to be successful it requires that all of the aforementioned areas be addressed. It cannot only be education, but we must approach the crime reduction effort from all angles. We are however placing too much focus and emphasis on the end result. When we see past and present governments spending millions on new court buildings, police cars and physical infrastructure, it becomes painfully clear in my opinion that we are playing a game of wait and see. What makes matters worst is boasting of high about a detection rate or as a matter of fact that most crimes are being committed by repeat offenders. We cannot be so excited about hanging offenders and in comparison placed so little effort in understanding and curving the desire to commit these crimes.

How Long Before We Realize the Emergency?

There are distinct difference between emergencies, crisis, and disasters, despite our tendency to use the 3 social disorders synonymously. The crisis and disaster being the ill handling or ignoring of an emergency event. The various schools of disaster and continuity management differ in established parameters, but agree that they are different. ‘Joe Public or Private’, by experience or just gut feeling determines an emergency not the authorities be they police or government. The latter are responsible to respond solve the emergency. For example ‘919 / 911’ is established so that Joe Public or Private can advise that there is a situation in need if resolution. It would be inappropriate for the emergency operator to say from their position that they do not believe that there is an urgent situation.

The current state of affairs as it relates to crime and social disobedience in the Bahamas is far from normal. We are seeing and hearing of behavior that leaves a lot to be desired about the future and well being of the nation. This statement is mine and is supported by the fact the murder rate has sky rocketed not to mention the assault statics which have nearly tripled in the last 10 years. If you agree with my observations then you should agree that we cannot bury our heads in the ground and hope that it all gets better. I venture to say that you will say that we are in an emergency situation.

For several months I have watched as our society is faced with increasing incidents of violence and more so concerned by the refusal of the leadership of our country to take proactive steps to curve this problem. Both political parties have refused to take action and rather play the blame game as to who is at fault. Frankly, we all are at fault for this condition and slowly we are accepting it as a part of Bahamian Culture. 20 years ago it was unusual to see police officers carrying firearms, now high powered weapons is normal and even being used to respond to unarmed civilians. The hiring of off duty police officers once exclusive to the police band is now outsourced to the highest bidder. A general public who in days gone by dared not challenge authority of the police, now is regular accepted and excused occurrence.

Never the less we must also be careful of what would appear to be what I call the desperate times call for desperate measures syndrome, which translates into arming all police officers , security guards and any other 'reasonable citizen'. As attractive as this seems it can and will only make matters worse. Some signs of this can be seen where major business that can afford it now have an armed police officer standing guard at their front door inclusive of security guards, cameras, and alarms.

However those that cannot now have become the targets for the criminals.I have my suggestions quite a few actually regarding curving disorderly state of affairs and certainly there are many others who can chime in. But that is not my purpose for this writing, the point here is to advise that we are in a national emergency situation. This is said with the understanding that many local emergency events have erupted in the last 10 years, but they have been confined and isolated to communities and islands. These events are stepping stones for a far more dangerous state of affairs if not checked now. If we are not careful the crisis and disastrous situations that our neighbors to south like Trinidad, Guyana, and most recently Jamaica have encountered and currently face will certainly show its head in the Bahamas.

The public out cry is heard all over the country for more hangings, stiffer penalties which translate in my opinion and more importantly we are afraid. This fear without a doubt says to me and maybe to you that this is an emergency; as the fire begins to grow, water needs to be put on it. Note I said water, not some bring in the consultants advanced chemical and technological agent, simple reliable water. Thus our crime situation requires and can be managed with simple fixes and more than police intervention. But first we must realize the danger and be willing to address it.

Responding to Bank Lane vs. Preventing Bank Lane

The front page of today's Tribune shows a police officer with a high powered weapon apparently being used to assist in the quelling of an aggressive crowd at Bank Lane on Wednesday November 4, 2010. This intimidating posturing by the police leaves a lot of concern about Royal Bahamas Police Force ability to credibly and civilly address the numerous variations of conflict that they face. Really, what is this officer, suggesting with his weapon at the ready? If the public and the authorities do see this posturing as troubling then, we have become and desensitized to increasing violence in our society; and are prepared to condone any act of force to suppress civil disobedience nosy crowd / mob / robbery / rape etc.

As I write this you are reminded that I am very pro police and in no way am I attempting to minimize what I personally know is a very difficult profession. Never the less there must be balanced, appropriate, and justifiable response by law enforcement. Use of Force Management, demands the application of just enough force to control with applicant keeping mind reasonableness and human rights.

Thus the police must make greater efforts to prevent the obvious. Not just the police, but the Ministries of National Security and Tourism, as the unrest at this location will have tremendous rippling affects. Bank Lane for quite some time has become the stage where accused persons are displayed publicly for ridicule and on many occasions praise and admiration. Whatever the current public opinion is of the persons doing the 'bank lane shuffle', the fact that the State has taken these persons into custody makes the State responsible for their safety, well being, and protection. For this reason and the potential damming fall out, why suspects and the escorting police / prison officers are continuously exposure to injury, assault and harm, at this point is beyond me.

Simply deny access at the perimeter of the court location to members of the public who have no business being there. This can be done immediately by developing a witness list, that is all persons who attending court should be listed on a daily register that is maintained by the police and court officials. This is not difficult as list of prisoners are available daily. This short term solution will reduce the number of persons who just 'hanging out'. Another recommendation is building a decorative perimeter fence, not chain link but perhaps decorative iron work that does take away from the charm of downtown but limits access by those who appear to be charmless.

It makes no sense to dispel disruptive persons from Bank Lane, when the obvious spillage area is Bay Street. Now the angry and disorderly group are on you main street, for the whole world to see. Initiatives, not necessarily mine, must be put in place now to minimize this daily event. Frankly, it should just be stoped post haste and arraignments of this type be done at Fox Hill Prison or be video conferencing. I am certain that many alternatives are available to stop this unnecessary parading.

To wait for the disruption, knowing that it is eminent borders in my opinion on lunacy. Compound this with inappropriate response mechanism and tactics, exposes the public ridicule, legal and civil liability. Simply put, eliminate opportunities for these types of events, prevent them from happening.